Biocon Ltd, a biopharmaceutical company, has signed a licensing agreement with Janssen Sciences Ireland to enable the commercialisation of Yesintek, its proposed biosimilar to Stelara (ustekinumab), in nine additional markets with immediate effect.
The agreement covers Australia, Brazil, China, Hong Kong, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, South Korea and Kazakhstan, expanding Biocon’s potential reach in the autoimmune disease treatment market.
Builds on earlier market access agreements
The latest agreement builds on previously announced arrangements with Janssen that secured market entry dates for Yesintek in the United States, Europe, the United Kingdom, Canada and Japan.
The additional rights expand the markets in which Biocon can commercialise the biosimilar, strengthening its international expansion strategy.
Targets autoimmune diseases
Yesintek is a human interleukin-12 and interleukin-23 antagonist that disrupts IL-12- and IL-23-mediated signalling involved in immune-mediated diseases.
The medicine has been approved for the treatment of Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Biocon aims to offer patients in the newly covered markets an affordable treatment option through the biosimilar.
Stelara records $6.08 billion sales
The reference medicine, Stelara, recorded worldwide sales of $6.08 billion in 2025, highlighting the commercial significance of the ustekinumab market.
The expanded licensing arrangement provides Biocon with additional market entry opportunities for Yesintek as it seeks to broaden access to biosimilar medicines across international markets.